Scientists have captured the moment a Nile crocodile ambushed its prey while actively protecting its eggs from potential threats. This demonstrates their intelligence and familial care, evoking strong emotions among many viewers.
The video shared by researchers on social media shows a crocodile lurking in the Nile River (which flows through the African region), waiting for its target.
Unfortunately for a nearby leopard, while drinking at the riverbank, it was suddenly ambushed by the waiting crocodile, which lunged at the prey and dragged it into the water.
Caught off guard, the leopard had no time to react and accepted its fate of becoming a sumptuous meal for the Nile crocodile.
Interestingly, Nile crocodiles lay their eggs only once a year. They must guard their nests for three months against dangerous predators in the area, such as giant lizards (a genus belonging to the Monitor Lizard family).
However, the lizard in the Nile region sensed a delicious meal buried beneath the sand. It waited for an opportunity to snatch these eggs for itself.
The Nile lizard knew that the crocodile guarding its nest could not remain on the shore for too long due to the scorching heat. This compelled it to retreat to the Nile River to cool off, providing the lizard a chance to quickly dig through the sand and secure an egg.
The crocodile became aware of the threat to its eggs, but it was helpless, as its speed was insufficient to retaliate for its unborn offspring.
The Autodka bird has stepped in to protect the crocodile’s nest from predators. (Photo: Wikipedia).
Fortunately, the crocodile had an ally in the form of the Autodka bird (or dikkop), which took on the responsibility of guarding the crocodile’s nest. Upon detecting a threat, these birds would spread their wings and chase away the lizards.
To this day, zoologists cannot fully understand why these Autodka birds choose to protect the crocodile’s nests. Yet, the natural world continues to surprise us!
